UC Davis nursing M.S. program receives 5-year accreditation

(SACRAMENTO) —

The Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Master of Science program for the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis received accreditation for five years - the maximum possible for a new program -- from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The organization assesses and identifies nursing programs that engage in effective educational practices.

"We are very pleased with this news," said Heather M. Young, associate vice chancellor for nursing at UC Davis and founding dean for the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, "particularly as it means our first class will graduate Thursday from a newly accredited program."

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. The commission ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, the commission's accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and post-baccalaureate nurse residency programs.

The school initiated the accreditation process when the program launched in fall 2010. The process included a site visit in October 2011. The commission announced the accreditation May 25, following formal approval by the Board of Commissioners.

According to the notification letter, the innovative and interprofessional master's-degree program, which is led by the Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Graduate Group, met all four accreditation standards related to mission and governance, institutional commitment and resources, curriculum and teaching-learning practices and program effectiveness.

"The accreditation represents a substantial achievement," Young said. "This validates that the distinctive program developed at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing meets the highest professional standards and affirms the focus of our nursing program on advancing health, improving the quality of care and leading system change."

The Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Master of Science Degree Program opened in fall 2010. The inaugural class will participate in graduation ceremonies Thursday in Davis.

About the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis was established in March 2009 through a $100 million commitment from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the nation's largest grant for nursing education. The vision of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is to transform health care through nursing education and research. Through nursing leadership, the school discovers knowledge to advance health, improve quality of care and health outcomes, and inform health policy. The school's first programs, a doctoral and a master's degree program, opened in fall 2010. Additional students and programs will be phased in over the next decade. The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is part of UC Davis Health System, an integrated, academic health system encompassing the UC Davis School of Medicine, the 619-bed-acute-care hospital and clinical services of UC Davis Medical Center and the 1000-member physician group known as the UC Davis Medical Group. For more information, visit nursing.ucdavis.edu.